The Free World

The Free World is a representation of the so called ‘ghosthotel’ in the Vrijbroekspark in Mechelen, Belgium. Originally intended as a grand urban vision for the provincial city of Mechelen, this ruin has become fossilized, a failed utopia in the middle of a nature reserve. Due to too high speculation and constructive problems (literally build upon mud) the construction has never  been completed.



In the archives of Mechelen there only survived one artist’s impression of the original building plans, which was published in 1969 in a local newspaper. The ruin has turned into a ‘romantic’ setting for people looking for an escape from Mechelen, as can be seen in the many traces of human intervention one can find there.
  


The Free World, from a graffiti found on the site referring to a famous rave track (Fuck the Free World) is an impression where a lost vision for the future and the current situation come together. The work anticipated quite some discussion and engagement of local residents and revealed all sorts of projections and myths upon the ruin of the Parkhotel and other current building projects in Mechelen.

Besides a kind of virtual archeologic reconstruction of a never completed building, this work is also a speculation on the current broader issue of abandoned building projects around the world and possible future scenarios to come.

Postcards (A5) distributed around the city and tourist offices. These cards can be send by 'residents' 'of the The Free World Hotel.